Device for overcoming dead-centers.



Patented Oct. 7, I902,

C. REEVES.

DEVICE FOR DVEBDDIMNG DEAD CENTERS.

(Application filed Aug. 28, 1901.1

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Invent/ 027 CLIFTON REEVES,

Vlfitnasses:

Patented Oct; 7, I902.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Ineren to); CLIFT 01V REEVES,

fiyfiis Jttorzzey,

C. REEVES.

DEVICE FOR OVERCDM ING DEAD CENTERS (Applicatipn filed Aug. 28, 1901.)

lo Moder.)

Witnesses:-

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UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

CLIFTON REEVES, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

DEVICE FOR OVERCOMING DEAD-CENTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.' 710,512, dated October7, 1902.

Application filed August 28,1901- berial l lo, 73,542. (Ndmodcl) To all1071/0171, zlt may concern:

Be it known that I, CLIFTON REEVES, a citizen of theUnited States,residing in Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for MovingCranks off Dead-Centers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for overcomingdead-centers; andit has for its object the provision of means for actuating the part ofan engine or other machine which in its path of movement has adead-center and for moving said part past its dead-center in eitherdirection.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for moving a crankpast its deadcenter, whereby the crank-shaft and parts connected theretowill not be strained or injured.

A further object is to provide means for overcoming dead-centers whichmay be applied to machines without materially altering the structure ofthe same; and a further object of the invention is to provide a devicefor overcoming dead-centers wherein two movable cooperative parts areeffective, respectively, to engage the part which is on its dead-centerand operate the same and to reinforce said engaging part on its workingstroke and also divide the power supplied, and thereby permit one partto determine which stroke shall be the working stroke of the other.

In carrying out my invention I provide some suitable means -for engaginga part of the machine, which, if desired, may be the flywheel when it isdesired to overcome the deadcenter and which means comprises a shoe or:other device adapted to engage the periphery of the fly-wheel, if it isthe fly-wheel upon which it is desired to operate, and means 00-operating with such engaging means to press it into intimate engagementwith the part upon which it is to operate at its strokes in eitherdirectionthat is,-if the member is reciprocating in a vertical directionand it is desired to start the machine by raising that side of the partto which the device is applied then the cooperative means will beefifective upon the upward stroke of said means and will be retractedtherefrom on its downward stroke, thus determining which stroke ormovement shall be the working stroke. The device is so organized that,if desired, it may not only move the part off the dead-center, but itmay continue operating and oscillate the part step by step to a completerevolution or any part thereof. It is generally expedient to employ thesame motive power for reciprocating the member and for operating thecooperating means. To prevent undue strain andtwisting of thecrank-shaft, bearings, and connections, the working parts of the devicemay be reinforced when in such working position by a member embracingsuch crank-shaft. In applying the device to steam-engines of course themost convenient motive power to apply to the device would be steam, inwhich instance the cylinder, which would preferably be a double-actingcylinder, would be in communication through suitable ports with thecylinder efiective upon the cooperating means, so that upon either theupward or the downward stroke of the piston operating the engaging meanssteam would be admitted to the cylinder of the cooperating means, andwhen such formercylinder was exhausting the latter cylinder would alsobe exhausting.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification Ihave shown one form of my invention, which may be the preferred form, ifdesired, as applied to a marine engine, wherein Figure 1 is a plan viewof a portion of a marine engine, showing the fiy-wheel with a form of mydevice appliedthereto. Fig. 2 is an end view ofthc same, showing theoperative device in cross-section and the rest of the engine and partsin detail. Fig. 3 is a side view looking from the right hand in Fig.

'1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged top view of the cylinder, showing a form ofValve connection; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section throughthe centerof the shaft of the fly-wheel andthe shaft of the cooperative means.

Similar characters designate like parts in the various figures.

Mounted upon a suitable bed is the framework 6 of an engine, in Which isjournaled a crank-shaft 7, having a crank 8, on which are a pitman 9 anda fly-wheel 10. Secured to the frame by any suitable means (here shownas bolts) is a standard 11, supporting the actuating means for theengaging member, designated in a general way by A, (here shown as adoubleacting cylinder 12,) in which is mounted a suitable piston 13,having a pistonrod 14,elfective to operate the engaging means,(designated in a general way by 13,) which in the present instancecomprises a metal or other suitable shoe 15, connected by any suitablemeans (here shown as adj Listing-nuts 15 15 and set-nuts 15 15") to saidpiston-rod. The upper end of the piston-rod and the piston are shown asbeing traversed by an opening in which is mounted a rod 16, which carries a suitable slide-valve 17 in the steamchest 18. Secured to the topof the steamchest is a cap 19, having an opening concentric with theopening in the piston and piston-rod and adapted to form the upperbearing for said slide-valve rod. The length of said rod is so adjustedthat when the piston nearly reaches the end of its backward stroke aplate 19, secured to said piston-rod and having an opening somewhatsmaller than the opening in the piston-rod, will engage a head 20 on thelower end of said slide-valve rod and shift such slide-valve. Upon theupward stroke of said piston the end of said slidevalve rod will beengaged by the lower end of the opening in the piston-rod shortly beforethe piston has completed its upward stroke and will slide the valve,causing the other ports to open. Steam may be admitted through asuitable supply-pipe 21 into the steam-chest and be exhausted by asuitable opening 22. The upper and lower ends of the cylinder aresupplied by steam from the steam-chest through passages 23, 24,respectively. Theengagingmeansorshoenormally hangs just out ofengagement with the flywheel and is adapted to be pressed against thesame by some suitable cooperative means,

(designated in a general way by 0,) which is actuated by some suitablemeans, (designated in a general way by D,) which means in thepresentinstance are respectively shown as a roller 25 and a piston-rod26, carrying the roller and operated by a piston 27, located in asteam-cylinder 28, to which steam may be admitted through a suitablepipe 29, the supply of which is controlled by some suitable means,(designated in ageneral way by A',) here shown as a valve 30 havingpassage-ways 23 24 leading to the steam-passages 23 24, respectively,and upon the turning of which valve in either direction, as by avalve-rod 31, connected to a post 32 on an arm 33, projecting from thevalve, the opposite end of the valve-rod may be connected with ahand-lever 34. The steam will be admitted to said cylinder 28 when it isadmitted to one or the other side of the piston 13 and will be exhaustedwhen the steam is being exhausted from such side. This latter cylindermay be mounted on any suitable bed. For supporting said roller andtaking the thrust of the same and preventing rotation of the shaft somesuitable means connected with the crank-shaft may be employed-such as anarm 35, loosely mounted on the crankshaft and securely connected to oneof the heads, as 36, of the cylinder 28. For the purpose of returningthe roller out of contact with the engaging means a suitable spring 37may be seated in a cavity 38 in said arm and adapted to bear against ahub on said roller and force the same out of contact with the engagingmember. The roller is shown as mounted upon a shaft 39, upon which it isjournaled, the shaft at its opposite end being so journaled in asuitable bearing in the framework of the machine to have lateral motion.The valve-rod 31 is shown as provided with a screw-threaded end 40, onwhich are nuts 41 41 and set-nuts 42 42, permitting such valve-rod toslide through a hole in the arm of the valve a predetermined andadjustable distance, so as to admit of a certain amount of motion of thevalve-rod before the valve is operated.

The operation of the device is as follows: Supposing the engine to be ona dead-center, as shown in Fig. 2, it being desired to rotate the shaftfrom right to left the valve will be shifted into the position shown inFig. 1, whereupon the steam in entering at the lower side of the piston13 will also enter at the rear of the piston 27. The piston 13 in risingwill of course carry with it the shoe 15, and just as it commences torise the piston 27 will force the roller against the shoe, forcing thesame into'intimate contact with the fiy-wheel, when upon further ascentof the piston 13 the wheel will be rotated slightly. Upon theslide-valve in the steam-chest being slid by the movement of the pistonto its other position steam will exhaust from under the piston 13 andwill also exhaust from behind the piston 27 and steam will beadmitted'above the piston 13; but owing to the position of the valve 30and steam-passages no steam will be entered behind the piston 27, andthe spring having forced the roller away from the shoe said shoe on itsdownward stroke will run free of the fly-wheel. One or morereciprocations of the shoe may be had, and the fiy-wheel may beoscillated as far as the exigencies of each particular case may require.If it-is desired to rotate the part in the opposite direction, byturning valve 30.into'the position shown in Fig. 1 cylinder 28 will takeand exhaust with the upper cylinder and the shoe will be effective onits downward stroke.

Although I have shown myinvention as applied to a marine engine andoperated by steam, yet the same may be applied to any machinery which isliable to get on a deadcenter and may be operated by any suitable motivepower, and although I have shown the two pistons operated by steamderived from the same source and divided between them, yet any othersuitable means of causing said two members to cooperate upon the workingstroke of one of them may be employed.

Having described my invention, 1 claim 1. A device for overcomingdead-centers comprising an engaging member and a member effective toreinforce the same on its working stroke, and means for actuating saidmembers.

2. A device for overcoming dead-centers comprising a reciprocativeengaging member and a member effective to reinforce the same on itsworking stroke, and means for actuating said members.

3. A device for overcoming dead-centers comprising an engaging member, arotative member effective to reinforce the same on its working stroke,and means for actuating said members.

4. A device for overcoming dead-centers com prising a reciprocativeengaging member and a rotative member effective to reinforce the same onits Working stroke, and means for actuating said members.

5. The combination with a shaft having a crank and a wheel mounted onthe shaft, of means embodying a member adapted to contact with the wheeland effective to rotate the same to change the position of the crank,and a member effective to reinforce the contacting member at its workingstroke.

6. The combination with a shaft having a crank and a wheel mounted onthe shaft, of means embodying a reciprocative member adapted to contactwith the wheel and effective to rotate the same and change the positionof the crank, and a member effective to reinforce the reciprocativemember at its working stroke in one direction.

7. The combination with a shaft having a crank and a wheel mounted onthe shaft, of means embodying a member adapted to contact with the wheeland effective to rotate the same to change the position of the crank,and a rotative member effective to reinforce the contacting member atits strokes in one direction.

8. The combination with a shaft having a crank and a wheel mounted onthe shaft, of means embodying a reciprocative member adapted to contactwith the wheel and effective to rotate the same to change the positionof the crank, and a rotative member effective to reinforce thereciprocative member at its strokes in one direction.

9. The combination with a shaft having a crank and a wheel mounted onthe shaft, of a reciprocative member adapted to contact with the wheeland effective to rotate the same to change the position of the crank,and a rotative member effective to reinforce the reciprocative member atits Working stroke in either direction.

10. The combination with a shaft having a crank and a wheel mounted onthe shaft, of a reciprocative member adapted to contact with the wheeland effective to rotate the same to change the position of the crank; arotative member effective to reinforce the re ciprocative member at itsstrokes in one direction; and means for actuating said members.

11. The combination with a shaft having a crank and a wheel mounted onthe shaft, of a reciprocative member adapted to contact with the wheeland effective to rotate the same to change the position of the crank; amember operated by the same source of power and effective to reinforcethe reciprocative member at its working stroke in one direction; andmeans for actuating said members.

12. The combination with a shaft having a crank and a wheel mounted onthe shaft, of power-operated means embodying a reciprocative memberadapted to contact with the wheel and efiective to rotate the same tochange the position of the crank, and a rotative member operated by thesame source of power and effective to reinforce the reciprocative memberat its strokes in one direction.

13. The combination with acrank, of means embodying a reciprocativemember adapted to operate upon and effective to change the position ofsaid crank, and means effective to determine in which direction ofmovement the working stroke of said member shall occur and to reinforcesuch stroke.

14:. The combination with a shaft having a a crank and a wheel mountedon the shaft, of means embodying a reciprocative memberfor engaging thewheel and effective to rotate the same and change the position of thecrank, and means effective to determine in which direction of movementsaid member shall engage the wheel and to reinforce the member in suchmovement. I

15. In a device for overcoming dead-centers, the combination with adouble-acting fluid-expansion cylinder; a piston mounted therein andeffective to shift a slide-valve; fluid-channels controlled by saidslide-valve; a piston-rod carried by said piston; means mounted thereoneffective to change the position of the crank; a single-acting cylinderhaving a piston carrying a piston-rod and a roller for reinforcing'saidmeans; a Valve communicating with the fluid-passages and effective tocause said last-mentioned cylinder to be exhausted and be suppliedsimultaneously with one side of said double-acting cylinder.

16. In a device for overcoming dead-centers, the combination with ashaft having a crank, a wheel mounted on the shaft, of means embodying ashoe adapted to contact said wheel and effective to change the positionof the crank, reinforcing means for the shoe; and an arm loosely mountedon said shaft and supporting said reinforcing means.

17. The combination with a shaft having a crank and a Wheel mounted onthe shaft, of means embodying a member adapted to intermittently contactwith the wheel and effective to rotate the same step by step to changethe position of the crank.

18. The combination with a shaft having a crank and a wheel mounted onthe shaft, of means embodying a reciprocative member adapted tointermittently contact with the wheel and effective to rotate the sameto change the position of the crank step by step.

19. The combination with a movable part having in its path of movementadead-center, of a member operative upon said part for overcoming suchdead-center; a member effective to reinforce said member in its workingstroke; and means for actuating said members.

20. The combination with a movable part havingin its path of movement adead-center, of a reciprocative member operative upon said part forovercoming said dead-center; a member effective to reinforce saidreciprocative member in its working stroke; and separate means foractuating said members.

21. The combination with a movable part having in its path of movement adead-center, of a member operative upon said part and eflective toovercome said dead-center; a rotative member efiective to reinforce saidmember, and means for actuating said members.

22. The combination with a movable part havingin its path of movement adead-center, of a reciprocative member operative upon said part andeffective to overcome said deadcenter; a rotative member efiective toreinforce said reciprocative member; and means for actuating saidmembers.

23. In a device for overcoming dead-centers, comprising an engagingmember and a member effective to reinforce said engaging member on itsworking stroke; means for operating said members respectively; means forsupplying power to said operating means; and means for controlling suchsupply of power to one of the operating means and actuated by the otherfor determining the working strokes of both.

2st. In a device for overcoming dead-centers, comprising an engagingmember and a member effective to reinforce said engaging member on itsworking stroke; means for operating said members respectively; means forsupplying power to said operating means; means for controlling suchsupply of power to one of the operating means and actuated by the otherfor determining the working strokes of both; and means for changing theworking stroke of one member relative to the other.

25. The combination with a movable part havingin its path of movement adead-center, of means for intermittently engaging said part, andautomatic means intermittently acting upon and coacting with said meansfor moving said part off its dead-center.

26. The combination with a movable part having in its path of movement adead-center, of piston-actuated means for intermittently engaging saidpart, and automatic means in termittently acting upon and coacting withsaid piston-actuated means for moving said part off its dead-center.

27. The combination with a movable part havingin its path of movementadead-center, of means for engaging said part for moving the same 0% itsdead-center, and piston-actuated means coacting therewith.

28. The combination with a movable part havingin its path of movement adead-center, of piston-actuated means for engaging said part for movingthe same off its dead-center; and cooperative piston-actuated meansacting therewith.

29. The combination with a movable part havingin its path of movementadead-center; power-actuated means for engaging said part for moving thesame oif its dead-center; and cooperative means actuated by the samepower acting therewith.

30. The combination with a movable part havingin its path of movementadead-center, of pressure-actuated means for engaging said part formoving the same off its dead-center, and cooperative pressure actuatedmeans acting therewith.

CLIFTON REEVES. \Vitnesses:

FRED. J. Donn, JOHN O. SEIFERT.

